Barnet

Barnet's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and relationships.

The population reached nearly 360,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Barnet increased by 13%, from almost 315,000 to 356,000.

The addition of just under 42,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Barnet was home to, on average, 29 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Barnet

Latest census data also show that the median age of Barnet remained 35 years in the decade to 2011.

This urban area had a higher average age than London and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 9,000 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by almost 700.

About 14% of people in Barnet are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Barnet by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Barnet

The number of people in Barnet that described themselves as Christian remained close to about 150,000 between the last two censuses. This represents a change from 47% to 41% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious beliefs.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across London (from 58% to 48%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in Barnet that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 40,000 in 2001 to just over 57,000 in 2011 (from 13% to 16%). The number of people who described themselves as Jewish increased from about 47,000 to about 54,000. Both of these figures represented about 15% of the total population at the time of the 2001 and 2011 censuses.

Just under 37,000 people (6.2%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 19,000 in 2001 (10%).

The population who identified as Christian in Barnet decreased by 6.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Barnet by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Barnet

The percentage of Barnet residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.5% to 3.0% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 17 (6.0%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.5% in 2001. The percentage of Barnet residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Barnet, but at a slower rate than in Brent (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Barnet).

In Barnet, the proportion of private renting increased from 16% in 2001 to 26% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Brent increased from 18% to 30%.

Across London, the share of privately rented homes increased from 15% to 25%.

The rate of social housing in Barnet fell from 15% to 14%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 66% to 58%.

Private renting in Barnet increased by 9.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Barnet, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people living alone

The percentage of one-person households fell here at a faster rate than in nearby Brent.

In Barnet, the proportion of one-person households decreased from 31% in 2001 to 28% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Brent decreased from 29% to 28%.

Across London, the share of one-person households decreased from 35% to 32%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Barnet increased from 6.2% to 6.7%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 35% to 34%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across London

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Barnet residents that were self-employed increased from 12% to 16% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in two (48%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 49% in 2001. The percentage of Barnet residents that were unemployed increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 9.0% in 2001 to 12% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in Barnet increased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Barnet, London and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Barnet residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.3% to 4.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73% in 2001. The percentage of Barnet residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Barnet decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Barnet, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Barnet working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 11% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.4%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 13% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Barnet decreased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Barnet, London and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Barnet with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.7% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (33%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 31% in 2001. The percentage of households in Barnet without children decreased from 59% to 56%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across London

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Relationships in Barnet

The percentage of married people changed very little in Barnet, while the proportion fell in Enfield (one of the most statistically similar areas to Barnet based on ONS area classifications).

In Barnet, the proportion of married people decreased from 48% in 2001 to 47% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Enfield decreased from 48% to 44%.

Across London, the share of married people decreased from 42% to 40%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Barnet increased from 36% to 37%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 8.8% to 9.9%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Barnet residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.5% to 1.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.7% in 2001 to 1.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Barnet remained close to 1.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Barnet by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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